Turbine driven floor tool



March 29, 1960 J. J. KOWALEWSKI TURBINE DRIVEN FLOOR TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 28. 1957 IZJVIIIIIAI" HIS ATTORNEY March 29, 1960 J. J. KOWALEWSKi 2,930,069

TURBINE DRIVEN FLOOR TOOL Filed June 28, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N V EN TOR. Jomv J. Kownuwsm mzm HIS AJTORNFY I V 2,930,069 patented .Mar. 2a, .1960

United States Patent Ch TURBINE DRIVEN'FLOOR TOOL John J. Kowalewski, Riverside, Conn.,.assignor to Electro- .lux Corporation, Old Greenwich, -Conn., acorporation of Delaware ApplicationJune 28,1957, Serial No..' 6 68,680 8 Claims. (CL 15-315) My invention .relates .to :vacuum cleaner nozzles and more particularly to nozzles adapted for use with tank .or canister type vacuum :cleaners .where the nozzle is connected to the motor fan unit of the cleaner by means of an elongated .conduit including a flexible hose.

Particularly for .cleaning certain types of rugs and carpets, especially those made .from synthetic -fibers,- it is advantageous to provide means, such as a rotary brush,

for dislodging surface zlitter. Due to the remoteness of the nozzle from the motor fan unit it is not possible to mechanicallydrive the agitator by the latter. The-provision of a small electric motor 'in the nozzle has been suggested, but ithas proved impractical to transmit'electric current from the cleaner 'bo'dy'to .the nozzle, due chiefly to the several swivel and separable joints'in the conduit connecting the two. It has also been proposed to drive the agitator by means of an air motor in-the nozzle, but heretofore such an arrangement has had several disadvantages. If the air motor is arranged in parallel with the suction inlet so that the air flow is divided between the two, this 'ofcourseresults in'reduced air how through each path. On the other hand, if the air motor is arranged in series with the cleaning inlet, so that all of the air passes through both, dirt-ladened air must pass through-the turbine and it'has proved impossible to construct an-efiicient turbine'which will not becorne'quickly fouled bythe dirt.

In accordance with the present invention'the air motor is arranged in parallel with thecleaning inlet, but valve means are provided for varying the resistance to flow through the latter so that the distribution of air flow between the air motor and the cleaning inlet may be .varied.

This valve means is preferably shifted in response to a change in the direction of movement of the nozzle over thesurface being cleaned. Advantageous'ly, one wall of the suction cleaning inlet is pivoted so that the width of this opening is greater during movement of the nozzle in one direction than it is during movement in the opposite direction. During forward movement of the nozzle the vertical component .of the pushing force applied to the handle or wandisin a downward direction and therefore adds to the weightof the nozzle. Consequently, it is advantageous to reduce the size of the cleaning inlet during forward motion, inasmuch as this reduces the area of the carpet or rug subject tosuction and therefore reduces the force resulting from this suction .which tends to pull the nozzle downwardly against the carpet. On the other hand, during backward movement of .the nozzle the vertical component of the pulling ,force applied to the wand is upwardly and .therefore acts in the opposite .direction from gravity and hence the greater suction effect produced by a'lar'ger area of the rug being subjected to suction is more or less counteracted. Therefore, it is advantageous to have thesucti on inlet smaller during for- War mo io of th nozzl and' ge dur n rearward motion. Ibis change in the size of the suction inlet re ults n, mor ai passi g thrqugh the turbine .durin forward movement than would be the case with a fixed .2 size of inlet, and-hence the average powerideveloped iby the :turbine is increased.

Another feature of my invention is that the rotary brush is disposed substantially entirely outside of :the region of low pressure sexisting within the nozzle. (3onsequently, the .rugflor carpet immediately undernea'ththe rotary brush has no tendency .to be sucked up. Different carpets, chiefly depending upon the nature of the backing, are lifted .from the :floor under the .influen'cenf suction different distances and hence it is:not possibleztorpropeily allow for this diiferentlifting-if the chamber in which the brush rotates issubjeetto suction. However, :byloeating the brush entirely outside'the suction passage, :the rug or carpetthereunder will notbe lifted atalliand corisequently the positioning-1 of the brush :may be the same for all ditferent-typfis of rugs.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will -be apparent from :the following description, considered in connection with the accompanying drawings which form part of this application and-of-which:

Fig. 1 is a top viewofa nozzle in accordance with a preferred embodiment 'of'my invention and-is taken on'the line -1-1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken onthe line of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a:-bottom-view of the nozzle shown in th'e preceding figures, but'with a platem'ember removed "and;

Fig. 4 is -a cross-sectional'view taken "on the line'M' of Pig. 3. V

Referring-to the drawings, reference character'10 designates a body member, preferably intheform of adie casting. This member is formed with an exhaust "open ing at the rear in whichan elbow coupling 12 is mounted. by means of-a swivel'connection'14. A'v'ertical -wall 16 of the body member forms the rear boundary of asnction cleaning inlet 1-8. The forward boundary wall',20

of the inlet. is pivotally mounted'with respect to the t ey 10 and includes aresilient sealing strip.,2 2 retained by means of brackets 24 in a channel formed inthe upper wall of the body '10. pair ofgspring members 26 urgesthe'pivotedwall 20inadirection 'away'from .thefix'ed wall 16 so asto provide;a maximum width of the'inlet '18, as V fixed wall 16 and 'thus' prevent the'inlet 1.8 from being closed completely' 7 p The space 30 between the walls 16 and 20 .is connected to thelelbow 12 by means of .a passageway .32 formed in the body 1'0. As is shown more ,particularlyinFig. 4. this passageway has an opening 34 through thewalhlfi into the space Stland an opening'36-.througharear wall- 38 of the body. The pivoted wa'llZti acts as a valvefor varying the resistanceto flow through the path of .flow from inlet 18 to the elbowlll. v a

'Rotata'bly mounted 'inithe top 'wall of the bodyQl-O by means of'bearings 4l fis a turbine shaft 42, the upper end of which carries a .turbine'wheel 44. This wheel is enclosed by a capmember 46whicl1is formed with guide vanes 48 whichdirect jets of atmospheric air at'the proper angle against the blades 50 of the turbine wheel. The space within the .cap 46 and underneath ,the turbine'wheel is in open communication with thepassage .32, as is clearly shown in Fig 2 so that air, after. having been discharged from the hladesSt), may flow into .passagefil and thence through opening 36 to elbow 12.

The lower end of shaft 42 carries a worm 52 which meshes with a worm gear 54 mounted on one end of a shaft 56 rotatably mounted in body member 10. The other end of this shaft carries a pinion 58 which meshes with an idler gear 60 which in turn drives a pinion 62 mounted on the end of a shaft 64 carrying rows of brush bristles 66, the shaft and bristles together constituting a rotary brush. 'Ihe gears 58, 60 and 62 are disposed in a pocket 67 formed in one end of body 10.

This brush is enclosed within a brush chamber 68, the pivoted wall 20 constituting the rear wall of this chamber. .The forward wall 70 of the brush chamber terminates .well above the surface being cleaned so that the interior of the chamber is under substantially atmospheric pres sure. The brush is rotated in the direction of the arrow 72, that is with the lower part of the brush moving to- .wards the inlet 18. A plate member 74 is secured to the lower part of the body so as to constitute a gliding surface for supporting the nozzle on the rug or carpet and also a closure for enclosing the different elements of the gear drive between the shaft 42 and the shaft 64. .The stops 27 for limiting forward movement of wall 20 conveniently may be formed as part of plate 74.

The above described nozzle operates as follows:

7 If the elbow 12 is connected to a source of suction by means of a hollow handle or wand and a flexible hose or the like, air will be drawn in through both the cleaning inlet 18 and the spaces between the guide blades 48. The air passing between the guide blades impinges on the blades 50 of the turbine wheel, thus causing the latter to rotate. This rotation is transmitted through the gears :52. and 54, the shaft 56 and the gears 58, 60 and 62 to cause the brush to rotate in the direction of the arrow 72. The resulting movement of the bristles relative to the rug or carpet serves to dislodge surface litter and to fling it towards the suction inlet 18. The air after having passed through the blades 50 of the turbine wheel passes in the direction of the arrow 76 into the chamber 32 and thence through the opening 36 to the elbow 12.

At the same time, the air drawn in through the opening 18 is drawn through the pile of the rug and removes the dirt therefrom which is carried into the opening 18 along with the dirt dislodged by the rotary brush. This dirtladened air passes through the opening 34 into the passageway 32 and thence through the .opening 36 to the elbow 12, as is shown by the arrows 78. Consequently, no dirty air passes through the turbine.

During forward movement of the nozzle, the fingers "28 contacting the rug pivot the wall 20 to the position shown in Fig. 4, thus substantially reducing the area of the cleaning inlet 18 and hence materially increasing the resistance to flow therethrough. This results in a change in the distribution of the air flowing through the turbine and through the inlet 18, respectively, more air flowing through the former. Thus, during forward motion of the nozzle the turbine is able to develop more power. The decrease in the area of the inlet 18 during forward movement of the nozzle is also advantageous in that a smaller area of the rug is subject to suction and hence there is less resistance to movement of the nozzle. During forward movement the vertical component of the pushing force applied to the nozzle is directed downwardly, thus tending to increase the resistance to movement over the rug and hence this increase is more or less counteracted by the decrease'in downward force resulting from the reduction in size of the inlet opening.

When the direction of the movement of the nozzle is reversed the springs 26 and the fingers 28 together move the pivoted wall 20 to its forward position, as shown in Fig. 2, where the opening 18 is of maximum size. This reduces the resistance of flow of air through this inlet and consequently the rate of flow through the inlet 18 is increased, while the flow through the turbine is decreased and hence under these conditions more air is available for removing dirt from the rug and less is r 4 available for driving the turbine. The springs 26 are desirable as they aid in overcoming the suction force which, when the size of inlet 18 is small, has a greater tendency to hold wall 20 in its rearward position than when the inlet is large.

Inasmuch as the brush chamber 68 is disposed entirely outside the region of low pressure, there is no tendency for the rug directly underneath the brush to be lifted. Consequently, the brush may be so adjusted with respect to the bottom surface of plate 74 that the ends of the bristles 66 have the proper contact with the upper surface of the rug or carpet. This preferably is such that the bristles touch the surface rather lightly inasmuch as this gives a beneficial whisking effect which removes surface dirt more effectively than a heavier contact which causes the bristles to flex so that the sides, rather than the ends of the bristles, are in contact with the rug. Also, lighter contact results in much less wear to both the rug and the bristles. This light brushing also aids in brushing up matted down nap, which is a problem with some synthetic carpets and rugs.

While I have shown one more or less specific embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that this has been done for purposes of illustration only and that the scope of my invention is not to be limited thereby, but is to be determined from the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a vacuum cleaner nozzle, a body formed with a suction cleaning inlet communicating with an outlet connectable with a source of suction for producing flow of air, a surface agitating member carried by said body, an air motor for driving said agitating member having an air inlet separate from said suction cleaning inlet and having a discharge connected to said outlet, valve means shiftable for varying the distribution of air flow between said suction cleaning inlet and said air motor, and means frictionally engaging a surface being cleaned for shifting said valve in response to a change in direction of movement of said nozzle over said surface.

2. In a vacuum cleaner nozzle, a body formed with a suction cleaning inlet communicating with an outlet connectable with a source of suction for producing flow of air, a surface agitating member carried by said body, an air motor for driving said agitating member having an air inlet separate from said suction cleaning inlet and having a discharge connected to said outlet, and valve means shiftable in response to a change in direction of movement of said-nozzle over a surface being cleaned to change the size of said suction cleaning inlet for varying the distribution of air flow between said suction cleaning inlet and said air motor.

3. In a vacuum cleaner nozzle, a body formed with a suction cleaning inlet communicating with an outlet connectable with a source of suction for producing flow of air, a surface agitating member carried by said body, an air motor for driving said agitating member having an air inlet separate from said suction cleaning inlet and having a discharge connected to said outlet, valve means shiftable to one position to increase the flow of air through said air motor and to decrease the flow through said cleaning inlet and shiftable to another position to decrease the flow through said air motor and increase the flow through said cleaning inlet, and means friction ally engaging a surface being cleaned for shifting said valve between said positions in response to changes in direction of movement of said nozzle over said surface.

4. In a vacuum cleaner nozzle, a body formed with a suction cleaning inlet communicating with an outlet eonnectable with a source of suction for producing flow of air, a surface agitating member carried by said body, an air motor for driving said agitating member having an air inlet separate from said suction cleaning inlet and having a discharge connected to said outlet, valve means shiftable to a first position to increase the resistance to flow of through the path of 19W included between said suction cleaning inlet and said outlet and shiftable to a second position to decrease the resistance to How through said path, and means frictionally engaging a surface being cleaned for shifting the valve to said first position upon forward movement of the nozzle and for shifting said valve to said second position upon rearward movement of said nozzle.

5. In a vacuum cleaner nozzle, a body formed with a suction cleaning inlet communicating with an outlet connectable with a source of suction for producing flow of air, a surface agitating member carried by said body, an air motor for driving said agitating member having an air inlet separate from said suction cleaning inlet and having a discharge connected to said outlet, and valve means shiftable in response to a change in direction of movement of said nozzle over a surface being cleaned to decrease the size of said suction cleaning inlet during forward movement of said nozzle and to increase the size of said suction cleaning inlet during rearward movement of said nozzle.

6. In a vacuum cleaner nozzle, a body formed with an outlet communicating with an elongated suction cleaning inlet bounded on one side by a fixed wall and on the opposite side by a pivotal wall, the latter being pivotal to vary the area of said inlet, a surface agitating member carried by said body, an air motor for driving said agi tating member having an inlet separated from said suction cleaning inlet and having a discharge connected to said outlet, and means contacting the surface being cleaned for pivoting said pivotal wall upon a reversal in the direction of movement of said nozzle with respect to said surface.

7. In a vacuum cleaner nozzle, 21 body formed with an inlet bounded on one side by a fixed wall and on the opposite side by a pivotal wall, the latter being pivotal 7 means during movement of said nozzle in one direction with respect to said surface.

8. In a'vacuum cleaner nozzle, a body formed with an outlet communicating with an elongated suction cleaning inlet bounded by a fixed rear wall and a pivotal front wall, the latter being pivotal between limits to vary the area of said inlet, resilient means urging said pivotal wall away from said fixed wall, a surface agitating member carried by said body, an air motor for driving said 'agitating member having an inlet separate from said suction cleaning inlet and having a discharge connected to said outlet, and means contacting the surface being cleaned for pivoting said pivotal wall towards said fixed wall during forward movement of said nozzle with respect to said surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 983,988 Foster et a1. Feb. 14, 1911 1,323,925 Stewart Dec..2, 1919 2,100,089 Smellie Nov. 23, 1936 2,107,571 Kirby Feb. 8, 1938 2,178,003 Smellie Oct. 31, 1939 2,203,650 Forsberg June 4, 1940 2,659,925 Wood Nov. 24, 1953 

